Groove is in the Heart!

Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart (Official Music Video), Full HD (Digitally Remastered & Upscaled)

Circa 1990’s, this song was my dancing jam.  Not only was it a song frequently played at ‘Shenanigans,’ on Water Street of University Wisconsin Eau Claire, but the song title was a growing theme in my young music therapy student’s heart and mind!

Today I will share an acronym that I learned as a student that describes the process that a board-certified music therapist uses when conducting a music therapy session.  This process is as prevalent today as it was then.  Sharing this acronym and information will help answer the question, “What does a music therapist do?” 

The acronym that helped engrain the music therapy process in myself as a student- to the fluidity of a professional today is the acronym R.A.P.I.D.

R.  Referral and Rapport

Referral

Music therapy services start with a referral, or an inquiry.  Clients of all ages and abilities are welcomed through Keynote music therapy.  Parents, case managers, or caregivers often contact Keynote for music therapy placement.   Keynote accepts individuals with various waivers, as well as care centers, group centers or individuals who pay privately.  Clients are then placed with a board certified music therapist. 

Rapport

Once a music therapist is placed with a client, building a rapport starts thoughtfully and progressively from the first session on.  Building trust and authenticity happens over time with genuine learning about a client's individual self.  Elements such as interests, likes/ dislikes, sense of humor,  and loved ones in their lives, all reflect in and assist the music therapist in providing meaningful and successful music therapy sessions. 

A. Assessment

Over the course of 2-3 sessions, the board certified music therapist will gather information for assessment in several different areas of functioning. The different areas of functioning include:

Physical, Cognitive, Linguistic (communication and speech), Social, Emotional, and at times Spiritual. These areas of function are fine tuned into subcategories that are addressed in our next step of writing the treatment plan. Assessment is conducted through various music interventions.  Preferred music or music popular during a client’s late teens to early twenties is often used for familiarity. 

P.  Plan

After the assessment is completed, a treatment plan is written.  The treatment plan contains goals and measurable objectives.  The measurable objectives are placed to be met, in order to meet a goal.  The treatment plan also contains music therapy interventions to be used for the measurable objectives  to meet the goals.  Subcategories of the areas of functioning may also be included as objectives. Examples may be: the client will give eye contact 3 times per session under a goal to  increase social interaction.  Or; the client will remain seated through two entire music therapy interventions under a goal to increase impulse control/emotional regulation. 

Most often, 2-3 measurable objectives are included in a treatment plan under the same goal.  In addition, treatment plans can include 2-3 goals.  

I.  Implementation

This is where the real fun comes in!  This is where I have witnessed joy, self autonomy, self expression, and  communication breakthroughs… just to name a few. Under each functioning area, countless music therapy interventions can be used.  

Here are a few examples of music therapy interventions under each area of functioning:

Physical: Instrument play using a specific tempo or meter to encourage movement, instrument play that will encourage movement of i.e. fingers, arms (specific to goal area.)

Cognitive: Name that Tune, Music trivia, Reminiscing with music

Linguistic: Encouragement of singing songs with repetitive speech patterns, 

Recorder playing for breath control, singing with the microphone 

Social: taking turns with instrument play, playing a gathering drum together, 

music adapted games

Emotional: Song writing, Lyric analysis, Identifying songs that validate different emotions

Spiritual: Identifying songs that bring you comfort, Songwriting about thankfulness

D.  Documentation

After each session, the board certified music therapist will write a progress note for the individual client, or group.  The music therapist will write a brief narrative including: observations of the client at the start of the session, what was specifically worked on, what interventions may have been used, and how the client responded to the session in relation to objectives and goals. A plan for the date and time of the next session is also included.  The treatment plan goals and objectives are updated when met or revision is needed.  

Thank you for taking the time to read about the music therapy process. Perhaps it puts a Groove in your Heart!! Keep dancing!